Following the breakout success of Pokemon Legends: Arceus as a spin-off to the main series, Game Freak should consider continuing Pokemon Legends as a series alongside its ongoing remakes, starting with Pokemon Black and White. With the stage set for DLC releases in 2023 and the finish line in sight for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, fans are already speculating about the series' future ranging from Gen 10 theories to the tradition of Pokemon remakes. But questions are being raised about whether Game Freak will again pass development of Black and White's remakes to a third party, and whether this could make a follow-up to Pokemon Legends: Arceus possible.
Given the popularity and success of Pokemon Legends: Arceus, it would be a missed opportunity on Game Freak's behalf not to capitalize on its latest spin-off similar to Pokemon Mystery Dungeon and Pokemon Ranger. Not only can the series explore the history of Pokemon and shed new light on each region's myths and origins, but it would allow Game Freak to continue working on new ideas and content instead of dedicating valuable time to remaking its older games. So just as Pokemon Legends: Arceus explored Sinnoh's past alongside Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, the same could be done for Black and White.
Pokemon Legends Supports The Series Remakes
Though the announcement that Diamond and Pearl's remakes would be developed by ILCA was met with a mixed reception, it became clear that the decision ultimately allowed Game Freak to redirect its attention to other Pokemon projects. While it's possible Pokemon Legends was a trial run of transitioning the series to a larger open-world design with free-roaming Pokemon, the unique historical setting and deep dive into the series' past became key selling points that made Pokemon Legends: Arceus so successful. However, instead of being released as stand-alone games, both the spin-off and the remakes balanced each other using the same regional backdrop.
Since Pokemon remakes have become a tradition for the series, Game Freak could have landed on a new winning formula that offers the best of both worlds. Not only can it continue to release remakes alongside its newest games, but it can ease the challenge of creating an all-new generation by revisiting previous regions to explore their history in greater detail. As seen with Pokemon Legends: Arceus, very few new Pokemon were introduced beyond Hisuian forms and evolutions, yet it was still able to deliver a story-rich experience that played into fans' nostalgia and provided context for modern games set within the same region.
Pokemon B/W Remakes Would Benefit from a Pokemon Legends Tie-In
While there are many regions for a second Pokemon Legends game to explore, revisiting Unova and exploring its past would not only be the perfect tie-in to Black and White's remakes, but Unova itself has a rich history already established for Game Freak to delve into. For instance, the origins of the mascot legendary Pokemon Zekrom, Reshiram, and their third counterpart Kyurem are a critical part of Unova's past, especially if Pokemon Legends actually confirms the original dragon Pokemon these three were created from. Not only that, but Black and White has many characters and events it could explore, from Team Plasma's origins to Unova's civil war.
Additionally, Pokemon Legends: Arceus already has an odd connection to Black and White with Ingo. Many ancestral characters feature in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, some directly such as Volo to Cynthia, while others are implied like Peselle's likeness to Nurse Joy, but Ingo is explicitly confirmed to be the same version seen in Black and White. This could have been Game Freak's insurance so that it can lead from Pokemon Legends: Arceus to a second game in tandem with Black and White's inevitable remakes, and by extension, a second Pokemon Legends game set in Unova could help these remakes navigate the continuity of their Black 2 and White 2 sequels.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is available now for the Nintendo Switch.
